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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – There are few bills more dreaded than the annual car insurance premium, but there are ways to avoid being one of the thousands of drivers who are paying more than they have to.

“Americans are missing a lot of discounts and that could really add up,” said Laura Adams of InsuranceQuotes.com.

Adams said a recent survey found that most drivers aren’t aware they are eligible for discounts and there’s a reason.

“If you think ‘well my insurance agent will just call me and say hey you are entitled to a discount,’ you are mistaken,” she said.

Adams said consumers really need to be proactive and ask about specific discounts.

Some examples include discounts for getting and paying your bill online, for married couples, and those who bundle their home and auto insurance. You can even get a break if you switch jobs and have a shorter commute.

But the biggest winners in the discount game may be young drivers, particularly college students, who can get a discount simply for being a good student.

“As long as you are getting about a B average in school you can get a discount that can be as much as 25-percent,” explained Adams.

Students at college more than 100 miles from home can also save on their bill if they don’t have a car on campus.

This may sound extreme, but if you don’t mind the idea of your insurance company playing big brother, any age driver could save big if you let them install a device that tracks how many miles you drive as well as your speed and braking information.

It may come down to what’s more important, your budget or your privacy.